In the recent political climate, the debate regarding undocumented immigrants and what, if anything, they are entitled to in the US has been incredibly contentious. In the bioethics portion of this thesis, I examine two of the major frameworks for distributive justice, cosmopolitanism and the political conception, address the criminal aspect of undocumented immigration, and suggest a switch from a focus on criminality to focusing on the forces that incentivize undocumented immigration to determine the type of claim undocumented immigrants have to health resources. In the biology portion, I examine three case studies: respiratory tract infection, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis to illustrate health disparities among undocumented populations. I conclude that based on their participation in shared social cooperation and the unspoken shadow contract of companies incentivizing undocumented immigrants to come to the US to provide cheap labor, undocumented immigrants do have a right to access healthcare in the US. However, we should account for risk factors such as other marginalized identities, country of origin, and rate and methods of disease transmission when determining exactly what that care should look like.

Undocumented immigrants have historically been excluded from the medical care system. This study explored the attitudes and experiences of undocumented Latino immigrants when seeking medical services in the San Bernardino County. It aimed to share the stories of undocumented immigrants that often go untold and provide valuable insight into the needs and concerns of this population. The exploratory study utilized a qualitative approach through interviews. Data was collected through in person and over the phone interviews, which were then transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparative method. The findings of this study identified barriers and challenges faced by undocumented immigrants including a lack of equal access to healthcare, a lack of knowledge in navigating the healthcare system, stigma and discrimination, language, finances, culture, and fear. Both negative and positive experiences were shared, along with advice provided by participants for undocumented immigrants. This study carried important implications for medical professionals, agencies, and policy makers to better address the needs and concerns of undocumented patients. Research recommendations included implementing programs based off this study’s findings and exploring the attitudes and experiences of this population when seeking mental health services. Further research is encouraged to work towards dismantling the barriers faced by the undocumented immigrant population.

SOCIAL SUPPORT AS A BUFFER OF ACCULTURATIVE STRESS: A STUDY OF MARITAL DISTRESS AMONG UNDOCUMENTED, MEXICAN IMMIGRANT MEN by Douglas Costa de Andrade Ribeiro Immigration trends in the United States have changed drastically in the last 20 years. Starting in the 1990’s the majority of immigrants have originated from Latin American, with most emigrating from Mexico. Men, some of whom are undocumented, have driven this new wave of immigrants. These new Mexican immigrants have bypassed traditional receiving sites across the U.S. Mexican border and settled in non-traditional sites in the southern U.S. (Kiang, Grzywacz, Marin, Arcury, and Quandt, 2010). They face increased difficulties adjusting to life in the U.S. due to separation from family and spouses, lack of established social support networks in the U.S., and marginalization. Difficulties adapting to a new culture combined with lack of social support have been associated with significant mental health problems in this population (Hiott, Grzywacz, Arcury, & Quandt, 2006). This study explored the relationship between acculturative stress and marital satisfaction, as well as the protective (buffering) role of social support in a sample of 125 undocumented, married, Mexican American men. The following instruments were used in this study: (a) The Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Scale (Mena, Padilla, & Maldonado, 1987), (b) the Social Support Questionnaire (Acuna & Bruner, 1999; Sarason, Levine, Bashan, & Sarason, 1983), and (c) the Global Distress Scale of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (Negy & Snyder, 1997). Results indicated that high levels of acculturative stress and low levels of social support were significantly associated with higher levels of marital distress. However, results did not support the hypothesis that social support acted as a buffer (moderator) against the effects of high acculturative stress on marital distress. These findings suggest that interventions with undocumented Mexican immigrant men should focus on assessing and treating acculturative stressors as well as aiding/advocating for the development and strengthening of social support networks.

From the exterior, the United States has extracted natural resources and transformed the social dynamics of those living on the periphery, contributing to the emigration from Mexico and immigration to the United States. This,in turn,creates the racialization of the Mexican immigrant, specifically the undocumented immigrant—the "illegal alien." I argue that this unilateral interaction operates with a racial formation of the Mexican immigrant created by elite white (non-Hispanic) males. The anti-Mexican immigrant subframe and "prowhite" subframe derive from the white racial frame,which racializes the undocumented immigrant in the United States. In addition, the subframes are evident in the three stages of migration. The three stages consist of threefold factors: First, the exploitation of Mexican resources (natural and human) and racialized immigration policies; second, the social networks and smugglers, called coyotes, who assist the undocumented immigrant to bypass barriers; and third, the discrimination undocumented immigrants encounter in the United States by other people of color. This dissertation relied on the migration experience of thirty Mexican male day-laborers,living in Texas, to examine the white racial framing of undocumented immigrants. The findings demonstrate how the U.S. immigration policies and members of the host society persistently exhibit the white racial frame and its subframes. This study is essential, because, aside from noting the issues of unauthorized migration, it demonstrates how elite white males shape the dialogue on the discourse and all that surrounds the migration process.

The social exclusion of undocumented immigrants is a global phenomenon that concerns the social work profession. Despite laws that protect human rights, undocumented immigrants in many countries are facing multiple challenges associated with a lack of legal status, including in Sweden. This study aims to examine how the legal and other associated barriers act as exclusion mechanisms against undocumented immigrants in Sweden when accessing services. Data collection through a qualitative method, involving semi-structured interviews with professionals engaged in supporting this group, was carried out. The results were analyzed by using a deductive thematic analysis, applying the social exclusion theory, as well as using earlier research on the subject. The findings revealed the existence of structural barriers that exclude undocumented immigrants regarding accessing services; where civil society has intervened to give support. The findings also reflect that it has been difficult for social workers to act on the situation.

This study examines the ethical challenges that Swedish social workers may facedue to the proposed “Informationsplikt” (Duty of Disclosure). Rooted in the Tidö-Agreement between government parties and the Swedish Democrats, thisobligation mandates public officials, including social workers, to verifyindividuals legal right to reside in the country and report undocumentedimmigrants to the police. Amid widespread criticism and demonstrations againstwhat is colloquially referred to as the “Angiverilagen” (The Informer Act),professionals have voiced concerns about the potential ethical implications ofenacting this proposed legislation. Through qualitative interviews with six socialworkers, this research investigates how this proposed law as a part of bureaucraticregulations intersects with personal values and professional ethics among socialworkers. The findings reveal a conflict between the reporting obligation andsocial workers personal and professional values. Respondents express acommitment to upholding their clients’ rights and dignity, while expressingapprehension that this mandatory reporting may compromise these principles.Discussions about potential strategies, such as seeking legal loopholes withinexisting legislation or contemplating civil disobedience or resignation, shed lighton the difficulties social workers may encounter in navigating these ethicalchallenges in the future. Overall, this study underscores the tension betweenfollowing laws and regulations and the core tenets of social work ethics,emphasizing the importance of social workers navigating these complexities withintegrity and ethical reflection.

The purpose of this study was to understand Mexican immigrant mother's perceptions concerning parental involvement with their children's schools. It provides a perspective on cultural considerations relevant to the implementation of Epstein's model of parental involvement. Eight mothers, two documented and six undocumented, who had emigrated from Mexico and were living in rural Wyoming, were interviewed. The information provided by the participants included descriptions of practices the mothers considered meaningful when involved with their children's education. They shared their own experiences of their school attendance in Mexico and their own parents' involvement with their education. They also shared their understanding concerning parental involvement after having lived in the U.S. and after witnessing their children attend schools in this country. Although the participants in this study had their own understanding of parental participation, they are learning new practices in the U.S. Also, with culturally sensitive modifications, the types of parental involvement suggested by Epstein could also be implemented with the participants in this study. Additionally, in regard to participating in the schools, it was also found that not having documents to live in the U.S did not limit the participants from taking part in their children's schools. Based on the results of this research, school personnel have the potential to play an important role in helping increase Mexican parents' involvement with their children's education. Small and inexpensive variations on what schools are already doing could create a more inviting environment for these mothers. Recommendations are made to assist schools in this effort.

Illegal immigration incurs tremendous economic, social, and humanitarian costs for Europe and the Maghreb countries. Previous literature on illegal immigration focuses on “coping” (border security, repatriation, and rescue) and “resolving” (social integration of immigrants). This thesis attempts to direct the European policymakers’ attention to “preventing” policy model. In essence, the prevention model seeks to reduce the incentives of the Maghreb people to migrate. The thesis focuses on analyzing the migration pattern in Morocco, and its implications for Spain and Italy. Based on Morocco’s two-track migration pattern, the thesis argues that rural development could reduce the incentives of internal migration, and urban development could reduce the incentives of migration abroad. Finally, the thesis analyzes official development assistance (ODA) to Morocco from Spain, Italy, and the European Commission. The analysis shows that their development efforts do little to discourage Moroccans’ incentives to migrate. The thesis recommends that the Spanish and Italian governments adjust their development assistance in a way that targets either one of the two migration tracks.

abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to develop a testable integrative social cognitive model of critical consciousness (Freire, 1973) that explains the relationship between critical consciousness and intent to persist in college among underserved students, such as undocumented immigrants known as DREAMers. Three constructs based on theory (i.e., critical reflection, critical action, and political efficacy) as well as a new one (i.e., political outcome expectations) were conceptualized and tested through a framework inspired by Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994; Lent & Brown, 2013). A total of 638 college students participated in this study and reflected a spectrum of disadvantage and educational attainment, which included 120 DREAMers, 124 Latina/o students, 117 non-Latina/o minorities, and 277 non-Latina/o Whites. Goodness of fit tests showed support for the adequacy of using the new model with this diverse sample of students. Tests of structural invariance indicated that 10 relational paths in the model were invariant across student cultural groups, while 7 paths were differentiated. Most of the differences involved DREAMers and non-Latina/o White students. For DREAMers, critical action was positively related to intent to persist, while that relationship was negative for non-Latina/o Whites with legal status. Findings provide support to the structure of critical consciousness across cultural groups, highlight the key role that students’ supporters (i.e., important people in their life) play in their sociopolitical engagement and intent to persist, and suggest that political outcome expectations are related to higher persistence intention across all students. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Counseling Psychology 2017

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:55:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 natalia.pdf: 1193630 bytes, checksum: 15cf59ea55b0b1a716129459db49bcca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-12-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paperwork concerns a masters research, which analyzes international immigration in Santa Catarina in the 21st century. More precisely the presence of Latin-American immigrants in the capital of the State of Santa Catarina. The main objective of this study is to understand who are these immigrants and how their integration happends in the society. The fieldwork was performed from contacts with Pastoral Service of the Migrant (SPM) and included, particularly, undocumented immigrants that seeks Pastoral for aid of the institution in its effective regularization or simply for greater integration with the society. For understand, singularly, this new migratory flow, the phenomenon was contemplated in agreement with their characteristics acordingly contemporary international immigrants. This study it pointed in direction to the regional immigration consolidated by the MERCOSUL and differentiated by happening in a main tourist city, characterized for its great mobility human / O presente trabalho faz parte de uma pesquisa de mestrado que analisa a imigração internacional na capital de Santa Catarina no séc. XXI, mais precisamente a presença de imigrantes latino-americanos contemporâneos na capital catarinense. O objetivo deste estudo é compreender quem são esses imigrantes e como acontece a sua inserção na sociedade florianopolitana. O trabalho de campo foi realizado a partir dos contatos com o Serviço Pastoral do Migrante - SPM e contemplou, sobretudo, imigrantes indocumentados que buscaram a PASTORAL, seja para auxílio da Instituição na sua efetiva regularização migratória ou simplesmente com o propósito de maior integração com a sociedade nativa. Para que esse novo fluxo migratório pudesse ser vislumbrado, senão em sua totalidade, mas em suas singularidades, tal fen meno foi contemplado segundo suas características, coetâneas aos imigrantes internacionais contemporâneos. Este estudo apontou para uma imigração regional consolidada pelo MERCOSUL e diferenciada por acontecer numa capital turística, caracterizada por sua grande mobilidade humana